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2003 Ford Explorer Vibration above 60MPH

Tiny
OSHP367
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
A few months ago I noticed that the tire/road noise was getting very loud from the front end. I replaced the front wheel bearing packs and all was quiet again. A month later, I suddenly get a roaring road noise and vibration that starts at 60MPH and gets worse at higher speeds, vibrating thru the whole vehicle not just the steering wheel. I replaced the rear bearing packs, the rear shaft U-joints, and balanced the tires. The problem stayed the same. I am planning to have the drive shaft balanced next. What else could it be?
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Thursday, July 10th, 2008 AT 6:26 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Dont have driveshaft balanced. Change the oil in the transfer case. Its drain and fill with automatic transmission fluid. I have seen this more and more. Let me know
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Friday, July 11th, 2008 AT 11:13 AM
Tiny
OSHP367
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I changed the transfer case fluid and filled it with Mercon V. A test drive shows nothing has changed. Under 60MPH it drivers normally. At 60-55 a high speed vibration and low noise sets in. It very noticeable at 70MPH. I think Monday I will have the drive shaft checked/balanced and try to test drive it without the rear shaft in 4W high to see if it still vibrates.

Another suggestion I got was to check the pinion bearing.
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Saturday, July 12th, 2008 AT 12:37 PM
Tiny
OSHP367
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I removed the rear drive shaft and drove it in 4High to drop it off for balancing - no vibration at all when I ran it up for a few seconds to 65MPH, so it is in the rear end. After putting the balanced drive shaft back on, no vibration up to 80MPH. But, when I let off the gas and coast at a high speed, the rumble comes back for a few seconds as I coast down to 55mph. Is that an indication of a rear end (ring gear/pinion gear) problem, or maybe a pinion bearing going bad?

Thanks!
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Monday, July 14th, 2008 AT 11:06 AM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Sounds like either pinion bearings or gears. You will need to disassemble to know for sure. Is there any movement from the pinion flange in the up and down motion. If any movement at all then the bearing is bad. If not you will still have to remove the center section and rotate piniuon and feel if there is a bearing noise.
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Monday, July 14th, 2008 AT 3:31 PM

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